Chapter 3

Madam Née Li was livid that she could not pull her daughter away, so she slapped her head. “Are you dead? I’m ordering you to get up and come back with me! Are you deaf?”

Meng Yao said through gritted teeth, “We haven’t hashed things out yet, Madam Née Li. Why are you in such a hurry to leave? Are you feeling guilty?”

“Why do I need to feel guilty? I want my daughter to go home with me so she can rest!” Madam Née Li yelled at the top of her voice.

“Xiu’er needs to rest now, yet you’re beating and scolding her in front of everyone. Are you sure you’ll let Xiu’er rest if she returns with you?” Meng Yao hit the nail on the head with her words.

Madam Née Li’s face became unsightly. “I am Xiu’er’s mother, so it’s okay for me to hit and scold her. Every child has gone through this. We’re all from the same village, so we should be honest.”

“Xiu’er is Dajiang’s wife. Do you think you can take Xiu’er with you just because you want to? Besides, Xiu’er said she doesn’t want to go with you. Can’t you understand human language?” Meng Yao balled up a fist and continued, “Do you think you can get away with murdering my unborn grandson after taking Xiu’er back? Haven’t you heard of an eye for an eye?”

“What do you mean by murder? Stop misleading others, Meng Yao! Besides, how do you know that the child is a boy? It could be a girl.” Madam Née Li batted her eyes. “It must be a girl since you’re not worthy of having a grandson! Where did you get the idea that you’d get a grandson?!”

Madam Née Li’s face lit up as she rambled, “You have to thank me, Meng Yao. Your family would have to go through great lengths to raise a daughter if I hadn’t kicked Xiu’er. How about I leave my daughter with Dajiang so they can give you a grandson.”

“Now that I said it, it won’t matter if you have a granddaughter. If she doesn’t starve to death and can work, she can get married when she’s of age and claim a betrothal gift!”

‘I honestly want to hit her!’ Meng Yao thought.

Since Meng Yao had grown up in a noble family while the elders respected her, she could not understand the Song family’s thoughts. It was no longer an argument of valuing men over women. Instead, it was about not treating women as humans.

Madam Née Li still thought that Meng Yao needed to thank her for causing Song Xiu’er to have a miscarriage. However, Madam Née Li was also a woman. As expected in this era, it was challenging to be one.

Meng Yao took a deep breath and resisted the urge to hit Madam Née Li. “Even if the unborn child were a girl, it would still belong to my family. The child would be the Zhao family’s treasure.”

Song Xiu’er turned to look at Meng Yao in disbelief.

Meng Yao nodded at song Xiu ‘er, indicating that she was telling the truth. Ying Luo did not know what her predecessor would do, but she was now in control of that body. Of course, everything was up to her. She made sure not to be a terrible mother-in-law since it was not who she was.

Madam Née Li looked at Meng Yao and thought she was an idiot. “Is there something wrong with your brain, Meng Yao? Why would you treat a little girl like a treasure? I would understand if she were your daughter, but a granddaughter? Don’t make die of laughter!”

“You don’t have to worry about that because I will beat you to death instead,” Meng Yao threatened as she waved her broom before Madam Née Li’s face.

Madam Née Li dodged and tried to fight back, but Meng Yao waved her broom too vigorously, stopping Madam Née Li from reaching her.

“I’ve raised you for nothing, you wretched girl!” Madam Née Li thundered. “Are you just going to watch your mother-in-law humiliate your mother?! Why are you so ungrateful? If I had known, I would have drowned you in a bucket of urine when I gave birth to you!”

Madam Née Li regretted birthing a daughter and thought it was pointless since Song Xiu’er only watched as Meng Yao humiliated her in front of others. Madam Née Li felt that having a son was better.

“Sometimes, I wish you would just drown me, Mother,” Song Xiu’er spoke softly, but everyone heard it. “Living with you is more painful than death!”

Meng Yao furrowed her eyebrows. She wondered how much Song Xiu’er had suffered to say such disheartened words as a teenager.

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‘D*mn you, Née Li.’

Meng Yao tightened her grip on the broom and continued to whack Madam Née Li.

“Stop hitting her, Mother-in-law,” Song Xiu’er said, “Please. You’re tired.”

“I agree, Mother. Please rest and give me the broom. I will beat Madam Née Li for you!” Zhao Dajiang quickly approached his mother.

However, Meng Yao thought it was silly for Zhao Dajiang to say that. ‘Did my predecessor not teach Dajiang well? How can I let Dajiang hit his mother-in-law?’

It was okay for Meng Yao and Madam Née Li to fight since they were of the same status. If Zhao Dajiang hit Madam Née Li, it would give her something to use against the Zhao family. The situation would be unreasonable if Meng Yao allowed her son to hit an older woman.

Li Zheng, who had heard the news of Meng Yao and Madam Née Li fighting, appeared. Then he gasped and scolded, “What is going on here? Stop what you’re doing now! We’re from the same village, yet you’re all just going to watch these two fight? Why aren’t you all helping? What will the outsiders think of us if this gets out? You should talk things out instead of fighting! What a disgrace!”

Meanwhile, information about Li Zheng appeared in Meng Yao’s mind. Li Zheng was Doctor Li’s elder brother, and he was well-educated. Although he was a little old-fashioned, he was a righteous man. The villagers loved and respected him.

Meng Yao immediately distanced herself from Madam Née Li and put the broom aside. Then she gathered her emotions as tears rolled down her face.

“I got blinded by rage, Li Zheng. It’s my fault for hitting you, so I will let you punish me. However, my unborn grandchild died an unjust death!”

Li Zheng was shocked. The messenger who went to inform him of the incident only said that Meng Yao and Madam Née Li were fighting, but the situation involved human life.

“A grandchild? When did you have one? Why didn’t I know about it?”

Since Li Zhen was the village’s chief, he should know if the population in the village had increased or decreased.

Meanwhile, Doctor Li explained the entire story to his eldest brother concisely and comprehensively. Li Zheng’s brows furrowed tighter the more he listened.

“I know the Song family well, Meng Yao. They are honest and hard workers. Tell me why you want your son to divorce Xiu’er.” Li Zhen said with a darkened expression.

The situation started because Ying Luo’s predecessor wanted her son to divorce Song Xiu’er.

“I only spoke out of anger at that time,” Meng Yao said.

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Ying Luo’s predecessor had mentioned divorce, but the villagers were unaware that Ying Luo had taken over Meng Yao’s body.

“Then explain why you hit Xiu’er,” Li Zheng questioned.

Before Meng Yao could reply, Song Xiu’er stepped in, “My mother-in-law did not hit me, Mr. Li Zheng. I knew I had wronged her, so I kowtowed and asked her to beat me. That way, I would feel better. The one who constantly abused me was my mother.”

“Then tell me what you did wrong.” Li Zheng continued to interrogate.

Madam Née Li stared at Song Xiu’er as if she would tear her apart if she dared to answer honestly.